Aunt Yue cleared her throat before she started to read the letter in a soft and melodious voice...

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Dear daughter,

When I write this letter, I suppose that I'm not by your side anymore. I send you away... not because I want to abandon you --- but because I want to protect you. Our Bei Yue's blood is quite strong and we have become the target of bad people. They took me as a prisoner because they want you... Someone whose veins are flowing with the pure blood of the Bei Yue royal family, just like your grandmother and father.

I ran away when it was time for me to give birth to you, so I can set you free once you are born... Don't worry about me! I'm alive somewhere... Don't search for me because they are lurking around me! I know they will use me as a bait to capture you and with that, they won't let me die.

Live for yourself and find your own happiness!

I love you.

Remember your father and I --- we both love you. Don't ever think that we didn't want you!

Your mother,

Su Wan.

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'Su Wan... her mother's name is Su Wan. Such a beautiful name...' Yao Ling thought to herself. She felt elated when she heard that she was still alive. It was written a long time ago, but if she was used as a bait, then there was a possibility that she was indeed still alive.

When Aunt Yue finished reading the letter, both women started to cry once more. They could imagine what happened back then --- how Yao Ling's mother tried so hard to give birth to her all alone while being chased by the enemies. Yao Ling remembered that Jiu Lan had once said that she was sent away right after birth because she could see a hint of dry blood here and there. It seemed like the one who cleaned her up was in a hurry, but she was trying so hard to make her as clean as possible in a short time...

There was no hint of abuse, so the perpetrator should have done it tenderly. She made sure that the baby Yao Ling was bundled in a warm cloth so she could survive as long as possible. Jiu Lan had told her a few times that the perpetrator didn't really want to let her go, but Yao Ling was feeling doubtful about it. She only thought that Jiu Lan said that because she pitied her, but it didn't seem so now.

Now... Yao Ling understood the reason.

Her birth mother loved her and didn't want to be separated from her, but she had to let her go because she wanted her to live a happy life. If Yao Ling followed her mother, she would be imprisoned along with her mother and from the look of it, she would be used just like her grandmother.

Yao Ling really wanted to cry when she understood her mother's predicament. It must have been the hardest choice that she had ever made in her life. Yao Ling could feel the warmth of her mother's love --- even before meeting her in person.

In a way, her birth mother and adopted mother both had lived a hard life... their lives were quite similar. Both made a difficult choice and live with it, despite the pain. She admired how strong both women were.

She shook her head and started to think clearly... At least, Yao Ling knew that her mother should be alive somewhere. Su Wan... Her name was Su Wan... Her mother. She engraved the name inside her heart and she resolutely wanted to find her --- no matter what the consequences were.

Aunt Yue couldn't believe what her daughter-in-law had gone through, she thought that she had successfully escaped back then. Thus, she surrendered herself to the Han Emperor. Was the one who captured her daughter-in-law was the Han Emperor? However, Little Qiu never said something about it, so she didn't think that it was possible. But who? Who was the culprit?

It seemed like things weren't as simple as she thought. Their enemies weren't only the Han Emperor. Aunt Yue ma.s.saged her aching forehead and she suddenly felt tired... she had been fighting for her whole life --- inside her clan, her family, and even in this foreign land. She wanted to escape to live happily, but instead, she got into another trouble and became a prisoner.

She looked at Yao Ling and sighed. It seemed like the burden would be placed on her in the future. Once she accepted the inheritance, her life wouldn't be as peaceful as before... Aunt Yue didn't know whether she should involve Yao Ling or not...

Yao Ling cleared her dry throat, trying to gain her grandmother's attention. She asked, "Grandma... why did my mother all alone? What about my father? Is he...?" Yao Ling couldn't bear to say the word 'dead', so she could only trail off at the last part.

Aunt Yue answered, "In a way, he was dead. But could also be said as not..."

Yao Ling looked at her grandmother and blinked confusedly. What was that supposed to mean? Dead yet not dead? Was there really a need to use a riddle at this point?

Yao Ling could only try to guess and ask, "Is he in a coma?"

"No..." Aunt Yue shook her head.

Yao Ling, "..."

Yao Ling was speechless, she didn't know whether she should laugh or cry. What didn't her grandmother explain anything to her clearly as soon as possible? Instead, she chose to do it in a roundabout way. She could see that her grandmother had a weird quirk, but why did she have to apply it right at this moment?! If she wasn't her own grandmother, she might use her poison to quickly find the answer herself!

Yao Ling calmed herself down and asked in a soft voice, "Grandmother... Can you explain to me about it more?" She bit her lower lips in anxiety... when would her grandmother answer the questions?!

Aunt Yue actually wanted to answer her questions, but she was just too shocked about the sudden news that came from her daughter-in-law. If she was still alive, she would need Yao Ling's helps to save her own parents --- but, Yao Ling's father's life was a bit complicated at the moment!

Yao Ling's last question brought Aunt Yue back to reality. She didn't really hear what Yao Ling had just said, thus, she asked, "Sorry... Can you repeat the question once again?"

Yao Ling who was already feeling anxious could only repeat her question once again. "Can you tell me what actually happened to my father?"

Aunt Yue nodded her head despite her disarray heart. If she wanted Yao Ling to help, she needed to tell her everything. However, it would also make Yao Ling's life become a bit more complicated. She remembered how her daughter-in-law wanted Yao Ling to forget about her real ident.i.ty and live a happy new life.

Telling Yao Ling everything... wouldn't it be against what Su Wan had wanted?

Aunt Yue sighed and she decided to let Yao Ling choose her own life. Whether she wanted to live a little bit complicated life or a simple life --- it was definitely up to her. Aunt Yue didn't want Yao Ling to be forced to live the life that she didn't want. She also wanted her granddaughter to live a happy life.

However, she was also a bit biased... she also cared about Yao Ling's parents. What if... with Yao Ling's presence, they would be able to find happiness once again? In a way, this was a gamble!

"Let me ask you a question first... After I know your answer, I can make a decision whether I should tell you the truth or not," Aunt Yue said.

"What question?" Yao Ling asked in confusion. She just wanted to know her parents' whereabouts ah~! Why was it so difficult?

"Do you still want to know your father's whereabouts even if you will be involved in a bigger conspiracy?" Aunt Yue asked.